Dominican Republic RPCV Steve Schuch is an accomplished musician, composer, poet and author of the award-winning children's book "A Symphony of Whales"

When he finished at Oberlin and it was time to tell his parents what he was going to do next, he shocked them by joining the Peace Corps. He went off to the Dominican Republic, planted trees and played music, wrote songs and told stories with the locals for two and a half years. When he returned, he decided to become a folk singer. "I actually played concerts with Pete Seger," he said. "It is not easy playing in bars." Seger advised him not to rush into it; to "keep your day job." Schuch kept soaking up more while teaching, working as an Audubon Naturalist and continuing to listen and learn. He said inspiration comes from the many different experiences of life and needs time to develop. "Like water flows off of a mountain, soaks into the ground and then comes bubbling up as fine water," he said. "Inspiration needs the time to percolate, to incubate and then, hopefully, comes flowing out."

ANDERSON TWP. - Steve Schuch is an accomplished musician, composer, poet and author of the award-winning children's book "A Symphony of Whales."

He developed a love for music while training as a classical violinist during his youth in Anderson Township. The 1977 graduate of Anderson High School said it started here and continued in college at Oberlin in northern Ohio.

"A lot began in Anderson," he said. "String instrument with Dale Swisher, chorale with Richard Wesp and the orchestra program with Dale Swisher; only after I left did I find out how exceptional the program is." ADVERTISEMENT

At Oberlin he continued to study music, but majored in biology and expanded his music horizon beyond classical. Poet and folk singer Pete Seger brought his banjo and guitar sounds to Oberlin and Steve picked up his first guitar and started writing songs. Dr. Roger Payne came to the school with his cello and whale paintings and inspired him.

"I was curious about too many different things. You must be committed to play in the symphony," he said. "I was way too fascinated with too many things. I worked a summer in Vermont with a Pete Seger camp singing and playing folk music."

When he finished at Oberlin and it was time to tell his parents what he was going to do next, he shocked them by joining the Peace Corps. He went off to the Dominican Republic, planted trees and played music, wrote songs and told stories with the locals for two and a half years. When he returned, he decided to become a folk singer.

"I actually played concerts with Pete Seger," he said. "It is not easy playing in bars."

Seger advised him not to rush into it; to "keep your day job." Schuch kept soaking up more while teaching, working as an Audubon Naturalist and continuing to listen and learn. He said inspiration comes from the many different experiences of life and needs time to develop.

"Like water flows off of a mountain, soaks into the ground and then comes bubbling up as fine water," he said. "Inspiration needs the time to percolate, to incubate and then, hopefully, comes flowing out."

It has come bubbling up from him. During a trip to Alaska, the natives told him of a dramatic whale rescue. That inspired his "A Symphony of Whales" recordings and the book of the same name. Travels to Ireland inspired his recordings of Celtic music. His music exemplifies his belief that "instruments, like voice, can speak many languages."

His organization, Night Heron Music, offers workshops, educational programs, performances, recordings, poetry and books. Steve's recordings on the North Star Label are national bestsellers, A Symphony of Whales has received five book awards and he received a Parents Choice Gold Award for his latest album, "Trees of Life."

With all the success and travel, he remains well-grounded and stays in touch with family and friends from youth. He talks with his parents frequently and his dad, Paul Schuch, is still active in township administration. His mom still substitute teaches some. He's kept in contact with Dale Swisher and his high school German teacher, Herr Williams. He's met former Anderson schoolmates in Detroit and, of all places, Oslo, Norway.

"Two weeks ago I did some serious catching up with Betsy Baumeister," he said. "We were in orchestra together in high school. We talked by phone and she still plays in a symphony orchestra and works in a medical library."

He stays curious; listening and constantly open to new ideas that balance beauty, laughter and levity while living with his wife, Marilyn, on a 200-acre farm surrounded by 2,000 acres of forest in Hillsborough, N.H. He rebels against being pigeon-holed as an entertainer.

"I am an artist with pride and humility; not just an entertainer," he said. "Art is troubling, soothing, thought provoking. Hopefully it takes you somewhere. Hopefully you come out changed. Hopefully my work contributes to that."

See and hear more about Steve Schuch's music and writing at www.NightHeron.com.

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Story Source: Cincinnati.Com » Community Press & Recorder

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